Outgoing Lebanese PM: ‘To say that I am held up in Saudi Arabia is a lie’

Today, outgoing Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri landed in Paris and is expected to meet French President Emanuel Macron. Earlier, Hariri tweeted: “To say that I am held up in Saudi Arabia and not allowed to leave the country is a lie.”

Today (Saturday), outgoing Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, who unexpectedly announced his resignation two weeks ago, landed in Paris with his family. Hariri was invited to stay in France by French President Emanuel Macron. The two are expected to meet today at the Élysée Palace.

According to Lebanese news outlets, Hariri spoke with his country’s President Michel Aoun and told him that he will return to Lebanon by Wednesday. “To say that I am held up in Saudi Arabia and not allowed to leave the country is a lie,” Hariri tweeted last night. “I am on the way to the airport.”

Macron Photo credit: EPA / Lionel Bonaventure/ POOL/ Channel 2 News

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia summoned the German ambassador in Riyadh for clarifications following remarks made by German Foreign Affairs Minister Sigmar Gabriel. According to the Saudis, Gabriel told his Lebanese counterpart that Hariri is being held up in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Foreign Affairs Ministry claimed that the remarks are “aimless and based on false information that would not help bring about stability in the region.”